The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:59 am Post subject: HINTON D. ANDERSON

I came across an unusal first name on the Donaldson's School war memorial:

Hinton D Anderson

Lost in Tilloy has found a reference to what is probably the same man in 'The Leith Observer' RoH. It states:

"Anderson, Hinton D., age 19, 9 Thorntree Street, Gunner (Naval RNR), drowned at sea 21/09/1915."

If he was drowned at sea when he was in the RNR then I would have thought he would have been eligible for commemoration by the CWGC.

He's not on the SNWM database either.

Regards

Adam

David McNay · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:33 am Post subject:

Couldn't find a death on Scotlandspeople for a Hinton Anderson in 1915.

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Adam

Hinton Douglas Anderson b 1896.

There is no record of a Royal Naval death of this name which would be unusual for a vessel at sea on a day when only twenty five sailors died, nineteen on one minesweeper. I have the suspicion he might be MM rather than RN, which would account for his being missing from CWGC, but not SNWM.
More digging I fear is required.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:35 pm Post subject:

Jim

Many thanks for the extra detail. Would the Merchant Marine have the rank Gunner?

More digging indeed!

Thanks

Adam

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Adam

David McNay · Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 12:10 pm Post subject:

Bringing this one back up to the front.

I have located his naval service record. Definitely Royal Navy, record notes he was awarded British War Medal. There is mention of his death but I'm not clear on the details as it's not easy to read.

If anyone would like me to send them a copy of the record, please send me a PM.

jrah60 · Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 3:43 pm Post subject:

Marine return on Scotlandspeople has:-

Anderson, Hinton 24 A.B. Born Leith, Thorntree Street, Leith, Name Active, DOD supposed 26 Dec 1915 off Orkney Islands, Cause of death supposed drowned, Ship foundered.

John

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:05 pm Post subject:

I think this might be the "Active"
So a civilian ship with a "civilian" crew?

From http://www.antarctic-circle.org/ships.htm

Active (Dundee Whaling Expedition 1892-93).

Description: Whaler of 340 tons.
Fate: Sank in a storm near Orkney, Scotland, on Christmas day, 1915.

The Orcadian (January 16, 2003), which tells about two crew members of the Active, Peter Brymer and James Scott Jamieson who are buried side-by-side in the Glebe Kirkyard, Rousay and Egilsay, Orkney, Scotland, UK. "Both men drowned in Orkney seas on Christmas day, when the elderly Dundee whaler SS Active foundered and sank with all hands in a south easterly gale. The vessel-which was managed by the Hudson's Bay company-had been chartered to carry a cargo of war material around the North Cape of Norway to the White Sea in North Russia. The Christmas Day tragedy was only discovered when lifeboats and bodies of her crew were washed up at Deerness, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Papa Stronsay, and, of course, Rousay. . . SS Active, like many vessels used during World War One, was a civilian ship chartered to do whatever was deemed necessary for the war effort. More than 60 years old at the time she sank, she belonged to an earlier era. She was a three masted, 117 foot long, sailing vessel, built in Peterhead in 1852 by Francis Robertson, then updated and refitted several times-including her conversion to a steam screw in 1871.
_________________
Ken

spoons · Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:37 pm Post subject:

From my reading of his service record, he enlisted in Royal Navy on 27 Feb 1915 and served on two ships before being returned to base (Victory) and he was invalided to HMS Haslar (a hospital) on 25 Nov 1915. On 29 Nov 1915 he was discharged as medically unfit 'disease of eyes - not attributable (to his service)'.

Reported to have died on SS Active on 26 Dec 1915.

So it appears he went back to sea as a Merchant Seaman following his discharge from the Navy and died within a month.

Unless the sinking was proven to be a direct result of military action then I don't think he qualifies for war grave status - sorry.

\Paul

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 10:25 am Post subject:

What a great combined effort Very Happy

A six year old case resolved in a few hours - we must be getting the hang of this researching thingy Laughing

_________________
Ken

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 2:46 pm Post subject:

Wow, well done everyone, what a combined operation! I don't even remember posting this.

If Seaman Anderson is not eligible for CWGC commemoration, perhaps he could be put forward for the SNWM roll?

It seems a great shame that he did his bit in the war and has missed out on commemoration over a technicality.

Adam